The Millbury boy's father told the Boston Globe his son went to a friend's house last weekend and came home with a stomach ache.

Owen Carrignan died on Saturday night at Worcester Memorial. His funeral will be held Friday.

“The symptoms reported may be indicative of a food-borne illness, and is currently under epidemiologic investigation,” according to Anne Roach, spokeswoman for the Massachusetts Department of Public Health.

Health officials confirmed Thursday that the little boy died from complications of hemolytic uremic syndrome, a disease associated with e. coli infection.

Derek Brindisi, the director of Public Health in Worcester, said it's too early to tell how he contracted e.coli, and it could have been something as simple as an under cooked hamburger.

Owen was a Celtics fan, his grandmother, Helen Carrignan, told WCVB. He will be buried in his favorite Kevin Garnett shirt.

The Celtics said it was sending a basketball signed by the entire team to the grieving family.

A scholarship fund has been set up in Owen's memory. Donations can be made to: